Like Sands Through the Hourglass . . .

It’s humbling to admit this, but I was once addicted to . . . a soap opera! I wrote this essay for a Twin Cities newspaper in May 1996. Roman, Bo, Marlena and John, I still miss you guys!

John Black

Jack and Jennifer rescued John Black from the gas chamber in the nick of time. Then Bo was shot while rescuing Hope form Jude St. Clair. A few days later, Peter shot Jude while he and Jack were struggling for a gun.

It was all very exciting but now it was time to say goodbye. It wasn’t easy. Quitting a soap opera cold turkey never is. But I had just started a new job and had less time to devote to such a guilty pleasure. Besides, the story lines I had been following had just been wrapped up. Yes, it was definitely time to say goodbye to The Days of Our LIves.

Publicly declaring my addiction to a soap opera is rather embarrassing, especially since I had teased my wife for years for watching Days. She had even gotten our daughter hooked on it! When Erin was two, she looked up during a break in the action and asked, “Mom, why Bo bummed?”

Roman Brady

Then, five years ago, when I started working out of my home, I saw a promo for Days that caught my attention. The “old” Roman Brady, who had been locked away in a dungeon by the evil Stefano, was determined to reclaim his life from the imposter who had taken his place. Naively, I decided to watch a few shows and see how the story unfolded.

Marlena Brady

Eight months later, I forced myself to pull the plug. My daughter, who was then twelve, hadn’t missed a chance to tease me about my new addiction. Sure, it made me wince but, hey, I had dished it out and now it was my turn to take it.

Then, last June, Erin started watching Days during summer vacation. I casually looked on while fixing lunch or cleaning the kitchen. Next thing I knew, I was glued to the TV every day between noon and 1 p.m. Arrrgh! Sucked in again.

Surely, I thought, John will be proved innocent of Tony’s murder any day now. But November turned into December and January and February followed and John inched ever closer to a date with the gas chamber. My God, it takes eight months for a character to sneeze on that show!

Bo and Hope Brady

But now I’m off the stuff for good. Oh sure, I still check the weekly soap opera magazines in the grocery store checkout line to keep up with my favorite characters. And when I read that Jack is finally going to expose Peter’s double life to Jennifer, I might even tape the show that day.

But I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll just watch that particular day. And, of course, the show or two after that to see all the ramifications of such a shocking revelation. Then again, it will probably take a full week to tie up all the loose ends. Yep, it will definitely be a week. Or two. At least.

Who will benefit from reading Through God’s Eyes?
Anyone who is on a spiritual path, or wants to start one.
Anyone who loves life, or wants to learn how to.
Anyone who is happy, or wants to be happier.

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Here is a two-minute video introduction to Through God’s Eyes.

Like to learn more about Through God’s Eyes? Here is a free 44-page PDF sampler from the book that includes:

• an overview of the book
• the complete table of contents
• the Foreword by Caroline Myss
• my Introduction
• chapter excerpts
• a sample end-of-chapter story
• endorsements from authors and thought leaders

In this eBook, you’ll find answers to questions like:
• What is the cornerstone of a spiritual life, and why?
• What is the secret to liberating yourself from other people’s judgments and expectations?
• How do you reconcile the “free will vs. Divine Will” conundrum?
• Why is there an exception to “Everything happens for a reason”?

Those who worship logic instead of God are only half right. Not only is it logical to believe in God and to live a faith-based life, the existence of a loving, benevolent God that governs all creation is perhaps the only systematic worldview that explains every aspect of life.

Phil is also the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent authors and thought leaders he interviewed. The roster of storytellers includes Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Caroline Myss, Larry Dossey, Rachel Naomi Remen, Bernie Siegel, Dean Ornish, and Christiane Northrup. Sixty Seconds has been translated into four languages: Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories.

4 Responses to “Like Sands Through the Hourglass . . .”

Phil, do you remember the story I told you about Erin when she was about three? I was at your apartment and she was in her high chair and the TV was on, and I said “Erin, do you see the baby?” And she replied, “That’s MEGAN’S baby.”

Hey Phil, Right on man! I had to literally throw the television out the door, on its face on the sidewalk, after two years of faithful watching only to find out that in tv time, that was only a week or so !!!??? Be careful, the addiction will come back :-)